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"It is quite the reward." Chronos agreed. "Your words are quite humbling."

His ear flicked before he turned full attention to the hallway. A medium sized gray animal made its way through the hallway with a red strip of something swinging in it's maw. It walked on all fours with a puffy gray tail swinging contently behind it. The forepaws had massive leathery folds extending from the wrist out, much like Chronos's wings when they were folded. The digits on its forepaws were longer than the average toes on a paw, long enough to grasp objects.

"Hello Pan." Chronos watched the Bolf as it entered the room.

The small creature looked up to the dark b'alam and made a peep noise past the long strip of juicy meat in its mouth. It than looked over to Hook and made a muffled "woof" noise.

Chronos laughed. Pan had likely been there to deliver a message and received a treat for it. He recognized the bacon prepared by La Muerte... in fact he could smell its sweet savory scent. They truly were in for a treat.

"It looks like dinner is soon to be served." He looked to Hook briefly before turning back to Pan. "Is our lord to be joining us?"

The creature begun to shake its head, however the gesture was interrupted by a loud noise echoing through that halls. It turned around to face the hallway. Yes, dinner was almost ready...

"YOU KEEP YOUR PAWS OFF THAT!" La Muerte shrieked just down the hall.

"I only keep back from you what you yourself have chosen to be denied! We have guests!" La Muerte raged.

There was more to her words than just a scolding at a sneak for a pre-meal. La Muerte had hoped that that much was very obvious for more than just everyone else in the room.

"If you -really- want to be useful, go show our guests where we will be feasting... and me amore... " Her words turned as sweet as sugar toward the end of her sentence.
"...You harm on little fur on our guest I WILL UNLEASH MY WRATH UPON YOU!" She ended with a very promising growl. "GO!"

Pan's ears docked back at all the excessive screaming down the dark corridor he had just come from. The little familiar was hardly surprised, however that didn't make it any less painful to the ears. The red lady was sweet, but when she was mad her voice could deconstruct mountains!

"huff-eak" The bolf sighed.

He returned his gaze to the amused Chronos before shaking his head again. Just in case the message was completely lost to the commotion down the hall.

Chronos suppressed a laugh as the noises down the hall grew louder. Xibaliba really did know how to get himself in a pickle. A few of them. He knew how to get into the entire jar... Oh, but those two were meant for each other. She was sweet to his sour, and knew how to stand up to such a menacing-looking being. The right way.

"I would assume that is the dinner bell..." Chronos mused before looking down to Gabriel's bolf.
"He is a busy fellow. Give him and lady Marie my regards."

Chronos was unsure how that would go for the familiar, but he trusted bolfs to be be smart enough to relay the message in some sort of way. They were really fascinating creatures. It was a wonder he did not already have one himself.

He turned his attention back to Jolly, whom he had noted seemed interested in the little creature.

"That is Lord Gabriel's bolf, Pan. Those creatures only spawn within these caves... as far as I have seen. They are quite the useful creatures. At least, I would assume so. I have seen that one quite often... "

Chronos couldn't help but brandish a grin to Jolly's reaction. The gray bolf took the opportunity to duck out of the cave before it fell down with the next sonic boom that was too come. That is, assuming he knew the two B'alam involved, it was almost guaranteed to happen. As stealthy as a nightly breeze Pan lept toward the ledge and took off into the dark cavern ahead.

Chronos nodded to Xibaliba than turned attention bact to Jolly. There was likely not going to be any response from Xibaliba on anything involving small talk. The guy just got a lashing.

"These walls are sturdy good sir Jolly. Just be thankful you are not on the other side of that tempst of words. Imagine how he must feel..." His tone hushed as he gestured toward Xibaliba and the hall he just guided them toward. "Besides... I think you are quick enough to avoid danger should things become heated."

Chronos finished his words with a laugh than begun to follow after Xibaliba. His ear tipped toward Joly to be sure he was coming along.


La Muerte didn't bat an eye to the disgruntled Xibaliba as he left the hall. She stood her ground and remained firmly planted until he disappeared down the dark corridor. He was a good B'alam, but rough.

Once she was sure he wasn't going to cheat (he would have to be insane to do so after a scolding like that), La Muerte turned about and headed toward the dining hall. It was still in the process of being carved out, but in size it was quite spacious. The dome-like room was even wider than the entrance to the cave. It was large enough to fly comfortably in and specious to seat several beings at once. The floor was mostly flat with a rectangular shaped rise in the floor in the center of the room. The shape was imperfect as was the smoothness in the floor and ceiling. The rectangular raise in the floor was covered with waxy cylinders with a spot of light dancing atop a thin string. The light it provided was dim, but efficient in giving some brightness to the area.

The table was lined with an array of succulent dishes. A golden brown cooked Paroo was the center piece surrounded by a jucy cut of flooflao and bork. There were some greens and brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Each one smelled of savory spices and seasonings. The entire room was bathed in this alluring aroma.

La Muerte waited at the end of the rectangular structure, standing delicately as she waited for the guests to shuffle in.

"Good!" Chronos chuckled. "It seems quite a skill with you! Far faster than I can even hope to fly... I do believe I am too heavy to move so fast."

Chronos shrugged with another chuckle as he thought about their physical structure. He was a bit taller and thicker than his good friend. Actually, seeing Marie (a light B'alam) next to Gabriel was quite astounding. Despite Gabriel being a magus, one could tell he was built thicker than a light tribesman. Zobeck (also a light b'alam) did not seem built as thick, but his scales seemed quite tough. How wonderful it would be to see more different types of b'alam out there! Each with their own skills. The theater could surely use different talents.

"But, if not, I am skilled in the art of distraction." Chronos laughed. "No one is faster than one not being distracted!"

A subtle way of saying 'I've got your back', but Chronos was sure Hook got the gist of it. However, the sweet and tender smell of La Muerte's cooking should easily disperse any need for distractions. The food was mouthwatering, a godsend to the olfactory!

"Ah, but I hope you get a taste of this wonderful food first... Or perhaps, not have to flee at all. It would be a great shame to have to miss on any of it."

He unfolded a wing and gave Hook a slight nudge with the edge and a laugh.

"I would fight long enough for you to at least get a full meal." He laughed whole heartedly to the claim.

La Muerte narrowed her eyes at her beloved from across the room. Though she had no ability to read minds, she knew him better than anyone else. That look on his face was one of trouble. Normally it would mean at the expense of others.

Words did not beed to be shared if he were to look over her way and catch the glare she had given him. Hopefully he knew by now that meant trouble for him should he harm anyone. Especially a guest. One should never even consider harming a guest during a meal time. Not unless they truely were unruly. These guests were pleasant. La Muerte had always liked Chronos, and his friend was a charmer. Not as charming as Xibaliba, no one can ever be as charming as that smooth-talking 'gentleman'. Even if he could be a pain in the backside.

"Please, find a seat you will be most comfortable in." La Muerte cooed to her guests. "And eat when you are ready to. Have at your share."

La Muerte offered a gentle smile as she shifted her gaze from warning her soul-bound to the rest of the guests entering the room. Her wings tucked kindly to her sides while her silky hair fell to her left side. The candle light of the room caused the flowers in her hair to appear as if they too were flickering with their own light. Her entire frame was brimming with joy. Entertaining was a blessing to her. She loved to entertain guests, especially when they seemed to leave happier from the occasion.

If only Xibaliba shared the same joy...

Chronos paused a moment as he thought about what Hook had just pointed about about the attention span of a rock. A wide grin widened on his maw as once again his amusement grew.

"Fascinating!" He exclaimed. "Yes, that would be a feat wouldn't it? Distract a rock while it is falling, preventing it from hitting the ground. Oh how I would love to see this!"

His ear swiveled toward Xibaliba as he cooed to his wife yet skillfully shot threat after threat toward Hook. Keeping his face pleasant as it had been when addressing Hook and bis voice even more so he chimed in.

"Our kind Lord would be honored that such a guest is present in his domain. I would think Lord Gabriel would be honored that such a brave soul has graced his halls and shown so much respect. Is it not our Lord's wishes to be a gracious host? It would be such a pity if a guest would be mistreated to the point of never wanting to return to our Lord's land. I would think that would put him more on edge than a guest tasting the fine dining of our clan."

He continued to smile pleasantly knowing Xibalilba would have gotten the hint to cool down a little. Chronos liked Xibaliba. He was one of the more fascinating beings within the tribe. He was also one of the few b'alam he would call friend. However, he did not wish for the wind b'alam who he also found fascinating, to be too threatened to return.

La Muerte shot her beloved a thin eyed glance as he once again begun to pester her guest. There would be a grand talk later once their guests had left. All the promise of that was carried in her one little look. They may have been in the Lord's land, but they were in her home and enjoying her cooking. A skill she had worked on and mastered of her own teaching.

Thankfully for Xibaliba, Chronos had managed to put the situation in much kinder words than her own candy coated voice could have. Especially when dealing with her hansom tar hearted mate.

"Today we have a guest. This is a special day.. my dear-" She turned her attention to Hook. Her eyes softened while she gave him her full attention. A generous smile warmed her features. "-Please, enjoy this feast. I hope that it will bring you energy and a warm and happy belly."